Mankey CLI & MCP Tool Reference

Mankey is an MCP server and CLI for managing Anki via Anki-Connect. Works with Node.js (npx) or Bun.

Prerequisites

Anki Desktop must be running
Anki-Connect add-on must be installed: Anki > Tools > Add-ons > Get Add-ons > Code:
```
2055492159
```
> Restart Anki

Setup

MCP Server (Claude Desktop / Claude Code)

Add to your MCP config (

claude_desktop_config.json

.mcp.json

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "anki": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mankey"]
    }
  }
}

CLI

bash

npx mankey deck list                    # List decks
npx mankey tools                        # List all 96 tools
npx mankey note add --deck Default --model Basic --front "Q" --back "A"
npx mankey run <toolName> '<json>'      # Run any tool by name

Configuration

Option	Description
`--url <url>`	Anki-Connect server URL
`ANKI_CONNECT_URL`	Environment variable (default: `http://127.0.0.1:8765` )

Troubleshooting

Cannot connect: Ensure Anki is running with Anki-Connect installed
Permission dialog: Click "Yes" on first Anki-Connect connection

macOS background: Run

defaults write net.ankiweb.dtop NSAppSleepDisabled -bool true

if Anki sleeps

CLI Subcommands

deck

Command	Description
`deck list`	List all deck names
`deck create <name>`	Create a deck (use `::` for nesting)
`deck stats <names...>`	Get new/learn/review/total counts
`deck delete <names...>`	Delete decks and their cards

note

Command	Description
`note add --deck D --model M --front F --back B [--tags t1,t2] [--allow-duplicate]`	Create a note
`note find <query> [--offset N] [--limit N]`	Search notes
`note info <ids...>`	Get note details
`note update <id> [--fields '{}'] [--tags t1,t2]`	Update a note
`note delete <ids...>`	Delete notes permanently
`note tags <id>`	Get tags for a note

card

Command	Description
`card find <query> [--offset N] [--limit N]`	Search cards
`card info <ids...>`	Get card details
`card suspend <ids...>`	Suspend cards
`card unsuspend <ids...>`	Unsuspend cards
`card answer <cardId> <ease>`	Answer card (1=Again 2=Hard 3=Good 4=Easy)
`card next [--deck D] [--limit N]`	Get next due cards in review order

model

Command	Description
`model list`	List all note types
`model fields <name>`	Get field names for a model
`model create --name N --fields f1,f2 --templates '<json>' [--css C] [--cloze]`	Create model

stats

Command	Description
`stats today`	Today's review count
`stats due [--deck D]`	Due cards with learning/review breakdown
`stats collection`	Full collection statistics HTML

Generic Runner

bash

npx mankey run <toolName> '<jsonArgs>'
# Example:
npx mankey run addNote '{"deckName":"Default","modelName":"Basic","fields":{"Front":"Hello","Back":"World"}}'
npx mankey run findCards '{"query":"deck:Default is:due","limit":20}'

Any of the 96 tools below can be called via

run

. Arguments are validated with Zod before execution.

Complete Tool Reference

For full parameter schemas, types, and defaults, see

references/tools-by-category.md

Deck Tools (6)

deckNames - List all decks with pagination (
```
offset
```
,
```
limit
```
)
createDeck - Create deck (
```
deck
```
name,
```
::
```
for nesting) returns ID
getDeckStats - Stats for decks (
```
decks[]
```
) returns new/learn/review/total
deckNamesAndIds - Deck name-to-ID mapping with pagination
getDeckConfig - Get config group for a deck (
```
deck
```
)
deleteDecks - Delete decks (
```
decks[]
```
,
```
cardsToo
```
default true)

Note Tools (16)

addNote - Create single note (

deckName

modelName

fields{}

tags[]

allowDuplicate

)

addNotes - Bulk create (
```
notes[]
```
) returns array of IDs (null for failures)
findNotes - Search (
```
query
```
,
```
offset
```
,
```
limit
```
) returns IDs + pagination
notesInfo - Full note data (
```
notes[]
```
) auto-batches >100
updateNote - Update fields/tags (
```
id
```
,
```
fields{}
```
,
```
tags[]
```
)
updateNoteFields - Update only fields (
```
note.id
```
,
```
note.fields{}
```
)
deleteNotes - Delete permanently (
```
notes[]
```
)
getTags - All collection tags with pagination
getNoteTags - Tags for one note (
```
note
```
ID)
addTags - Add tags to notes (
```
notes[]
```
,
```
tags
```
space-separated)
removeTags - Remove tags from notes (
```
notes[]
```
,
```
tags
```
space-separated)
replaceTags - Replace tag in specific notes (
```
notes[]
```
,
```
tagToReplace
```
,
```
replaceWithTag
```
)
replaceTagsInAllNotes - Global tag replace (
```
tagToReplace
```
,
```
replaceWithTag
```
)
clearUnusedTags - Remove orphaned tags (no params)
removeEmptyNotes - Delete notes with no cards (no params)
notesModTime - Modification timestamps (
```
notes[]
```
)

Card Tools (19)

findCards - Search (
```
query
```
,
```
offset
```
,
```
limit
```
) returns IDs + pagination
getNextCards - Due cards in review order (
```
deck
```
,
```
limit
```
,
```
offset
```
)
cardsInfo - Full card data (
```
cards[]
```
) auto-batches >100
answerCards - Batch answer (
```
answers[].cardId
```
,
```
answers[].ease
```
1-4)
suspend / unsuspend - Toggle suspension (
```
cards[]
```
)
areSuspended - Check suspension status (
```
cards[]
```
) returns booleans
areDue - Check due status (
```
cards[]
```
) returns booleans
getEaseFactors / setEaseFactors - Get/set ease (
```
cards[]
```
,
```
easeFactors[]
```
)
getIntervals - Current intervals in days (
```
cards[]
```
,
```
complete
```
)
cardsToNotes - Map card IDs to note IDs (
```
cards[]
```
)
cardsModTime - Modification timestamps (
```
cards[]
```
)
forgetCards - Reset to new state (
```
cards[]
```
)
relearnCards - Move to relearning queue (
```
cards[]
```
)
setSpecificValueOfCard - Modify internal properties (
```
card
```
,
```
keys[]
```
,
```
newValues[]
```
)
getDecks - Deck names for cards (
```
cards[]
```
)
changeDeck - Move cards to deck (
```
cards[]
```
,
```
deck
```
)
canAddNotes - Validate without creating (
```
notes[]
```
) returns booleans

Model Tools (9)

modelNames - List all models with pagination
modelFieldNames - Field names for model (
```
modelName
```
)
modelNamesAndIds - Model name-to-ID mapping with pagination

createModel - Create note type (

modelName

inOrderFields[]

cardTemplates[]

css

isCloze

)

modelFieldsOnTemplates - Fields used per template (
```
modelName
```
)
modelTemplates - Get templates for model (
```
modelName
```
)
modelStyling - Get CSS for model (
```
modelName
```
)
updateModelTemplates - Update templates (
```
model.name
```
,
```
model.templates{}
```
)
updateModelStyling - Update CSS (
```
model.name
```
,
```
model.css
```
)

Media Tools (5)

storeMediaFile - Store file (
```
filename
```
, one of:
```
data
```
base64 /
```
url
```
/
```
path
```
,
```
deleteExisting
```
)
retrieveMediaFile - Get file as base64 (
```
filename
```
)
getMediaFilesNames - List files (
```
pattern
```
with wildcards)
deleteMediaFile - Delete file (
```
filename
```
)
getMediaDirPath - Get media folder path (no params)

Stats Tools (7)

getNumCardsReviewedToday - Today's review count (no params)
getDueCardsDetailed - Due cards breakdown (
```
deck
```
optional)
getNumCardsReviewedByDay - Reviews by day (no params)
getCollectionStatsHTML - Full stats HTML (
```
wholeCollection
```
)
cardReviews - Review history (
```
deck
```
,
```
startID
```
)
getLatestReviewID - Latest review ID (
```
deck
```
)
getReviewsOfCards - Reviews for specific cards (
```
cards[]
```
)

GUI Tools (17)

guiBrowse - Open browser (
```
query
```
,
```
reorderCards{}
```
)
guiAddCards - Open add dialog (
```
note{}
```
)
guiCurrentCard - Current review card (no params)
guiAnswerCard - Answer current card (
```
ease
```
1-4)
guiShowQuestion / guiShowAnswer - Toggle card sides
guiStartCardTimer - Start review timer
guiDeckOverview - Open deck overview (
```
name
```
)
guiDeckBrowser - Open deck list
guiDeckReview - Start reviewing (
```
name
```
)
guiSelectedNotes - Get selected notes in browser
guiSelectCard - Select card in browser (
```
card
```
)
guiEditNote - Open edit dialog (
```
note
```
)
guiUndo - Undo last action
guiCheckDatabase - Run integrity check
guiImportFile - Open import dialog (
```
path
```
)
guiExitAnki - Close Anki

System Tools (17)

sync - Sync with AnkiWeb
getProfiles / loadProfile / getActiveProfile - Profile management
exportPackage - Export .apkg (
```
deck
```
,
```
path
```
,
```
includeSched
```
)
importPackage - Import .apkg (
```
path
```
)
version - Anki-Connect version
requestPermission - Request API permission
apiReflect - API metadata (
```
scopes[]
```
,
```
actions[]
```
)
reloadCollection - Reload from disk
multi - Batch multiple actions (
```
actions[]
```
)
setDueDate - Override due date (
```
cards[]
```
,
```
days
```
)
suspended - Check single card suspension (
```
card
```
)
saveDeckConfig - Update deck config (
```
config{}
```
)
setDeckConfigId - Assign config to decks (
```
decks[]
```
,
```
configId
```
)
cloneDeckConfigId - Clone config (
```
name
```
,
```
cloneFrom
```
)
removeDeckConfigId - Delete config (
```
configId
```
)

Common Workflows

Check learning progress and mastery

bash

# Deck overview: new/learning/review/total counts
npx mankey deck stats "Japanese::JLPT N5"

# Today's study stats
npx mankey stats today

# Due cards with queue breakdown (learning vs review vs new)
npx mankey stats due --deck "Japanese::JLPT N5"

# Find well-known cards (high interval = strong retention)
npx mankey run findCards '{"query":"deck:Default prop:ivl>30"}'

# Get full learning data for specific cards (interval, ease, reps, lapses)
npx mankey card info <cardId1> <cardId2>
# Returns: interval (days until review), factor (ease multiplier),
#   reps (successful reviews), lapses (times forgotten),
#   queue (0=new, 1=learning, 2=review, 3=relearning),
#   type (0=new, 1=learning, 2=review, 3=relearn)

Find struggling cards

bash

# Cards failed many times (high lapse count)
npx mankey run findCards '{"query":"deck:Default prop:lapses>5"}'

# Cards with low ease (difficulty multiplier, 2500 = default)
npx mankey run findCards '{"query":"deck:Default prop:ease<2.0"}'

# Cards currently in relearning (recently forgotten)
npx mankey run findCards '{"query":"deck:Default is:learn -is:new"}'

# Get ease factors for specific cards
npx mankey run getEaseFactors '{"cards":[123,456]}'

Create cards from content

bash

# Single card
npx mankey note add --deck "Japanese" --model Basic --front "日本語" --back "Japanese language" --tags japanese,vocabulary

# Bulk create via generic runner
npx mankey run addNotes '{"notes":[
  {"deckName":"Japanese","modelName":"Basic","fields":{"Front":"猫","Back":"cat"},"tags":["japanese"]},
  {"deckName":"Japanese","modelName":"Basic","fields":{"Front":"犬","Back":"dog"},"tags":["japanese"]}
]}'

# Cloze deletion
npx mankey run addNote '{"deckName":"Science","modelName":"Cloze","fields":{"Text":"The {{c1::mitochondria}} is the powerhouse of the cell"}}'

# Check what fields a model needs before creating
npx mankey model fields "Basic (and reversed card)"

Review cards programmatically

bash

# Get next due cards in review order (Learning > Review > New)
npx mankey card next --deck Default --limit 5

# Answer cards: 1=Again 2=Hard 3=Good 4=Easy
npx mankey card answer <cardId> 3

# Batch answer multiple cards
npx mankey run answerCards '{"answers":[
  {"cardId":123,"ease":3},
  {"cardId":456,"ease":4}
]}'

Manage tags and organize

bash

# Find all cards with a tag
npx mankey note find "tag:japanese"

# Add tags to notes
npx mankey run addTags '{"notes":[123,456],"tags":"vocab important"}'

# Replace a tag across entire collection
npx mankey run replaceTagsInAllNotes '{"tagToReplace":"old-tag","replaceWithTag":"new-tag"}'

# Clean up unused tags
npx mankey run clearUnusedTags '{}'

# Move cards between decks
npx mankey run changeDeck '{"cards":[123,456],"deck":"Japanese::Advanced"}'

Bulk operations and search

bash

# Search with Anki query syntax
npx mankey card find "deck:Japanese is:due" --limit 50
npx mankey note find "tag:vocab added:7"        # Added in last 7 days
npx mankey card find "prop:ivl>90 deck:Default"  # Well-known cards

# Suspend/unsuspend cards
npx mankey card suspend 123 456 789
npx mankey card unsuspend 123 456 789

# Reset cards to new state (clear scheduling)
npx mankey run forgetCards '{"cards":[123,456]}'

# Reschedule cards
npx mankey run setDueDate '{"cards":[123,456],"days":"0"}'  # Due today
npx mankey run setDueDate '{"cards":[123,456],"days":"7"}'  # Due in 7 days

Search Query Syntax

Query	Matches
`deck:Name`	Cards in deck (use quotes for `::` : `"deck:A::B"` )
`tag:name`	Notes with tag
`-tag:name`	Notes without tag
`is:due`	Cards due for review
`is:new`	New cards (never reviewed)
`is:review`	Review cards (graduated from learning)
`is:learn`	Cards in learning phase
`is:suspended`	Suspended cards
`prop:ivl>N`	Cards with interval > N days
`prop:ease<N`	Cards with ease factor < N
`prop:lapses>N`	Cards failed more than N times
`prop:reps>N`	Cards reviewed more than N times
`added:N`	Cards added in last N days
`rated:N`	Cards rated in last N days
`"field:value"`	Cards where field contains value

Combine queries with spaces (AND). Example:

deck:Japanese is:due prop:lapses>3

Key Patterns

Pagination: Tools returning lists support

offset

limit

. Response includes

pagination: { total, offset, limit, hasMore, nextOffset }

Auto-batching:

notesInfo

and

cardsInfo

auto-split requests >100 items.

Input flexibility: IDs accept number/string/array. Tags accept array, space-separated string, or JSON string.

mankey-cli

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content

Mankey CLI & MCP Tool Reference

Prerequisites

Setup

MCP Server (Claude Desktop / Claude Code)

CLI

Configuration

Troubleshooting

CLI Subcommands

deck

note

card

model

stats

Generic Runner

Complete Tool Reference

Deck Tools (6)

Note Tools (16)

Card Tools (19)

Model Tools (9)

Media Tools (5)

Stats Tools (7)

GUI Tools (17)

System Tools (17)

Common Workflows

Check learning progress and mastery

Find struggling cards

Create cards from content

Review cards programmatically

Manage tags and organize

Bulk operations and search

Search Query Syntax

Key Patterns